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The Inspiration for a Book Title from Long Ago

  • 3 min read

It was 51 years ago, actually May 22, 1971, when the title of my current memoir, “With The Bark Off,” was first uttered publicly, and on national television at that. It happened at an event unlike any other at the time, or since then, in Austin’s history. And the occasion has been rarely duplicated anywhere else in the US for that matter during the ensuing half century.


Let me explain. The occasion was the official opening and dedication ceremony of the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum on the campus of the University of Texas. President Johnson and UT System Chair of the Board of Regents Frank Erwin had retained me six months prior to chair and manage the mammoth undertaking. (The university built the facility on UT land before turning it over to the National Archives to operate.)


These were the words uttered by LBJ describing what was included in the Library and Museum:

“It’s all here: the story of our time – with the bark off….I do not know how this period will be regarded in years to come. But that is not the point. This library will show the facts – not just the joy and triumphs, but the sorrow and failures, too.”

So, decades later, as I wrote my memoir (that included fun and interesting facts about that event) it only seemed fitting to name the book, With The Bark Off, A Journalist’s Memories of LBJ and a Life in the News Media. Because I share true tidbits, including some embarrassing moments:

--like when LBJ chewed my butt out

--like when Chairman Erwin broke a state law by surprisingly serving mid-day alcoholic drinks to the guests (that he may have paid for personally or hid somewhere in the UT budget)

--like when I lied to President Nixon

--like when a miscalculation led to the VIP guests getting sprayed with a mist of water when we turned on the towering fountain.


You get the picture. Speaking of pictures, let me share a picture of historical significance.


The ceremony took place on an open platform outside during a time of Vietnam War protests. Four out of the top five officials in line to become president in case something happened to the president were side-by-side on the platform. Talk about security concerns! Look closely at this photo.


The Dedication of the LBJ Library May 22, 1971

With demonstrations being held nearby, in addition to President Nixon, “P”, four of the five presidential successors stood in the open on the platform. “1” first in line is Vice President Spiro Agnew (partially obscured by LBJ), “2” is Speaker of the House Carl Albert, “4” is Secretary of State William Rogers, and “5” is Treasury Secretary former Texas governor John Connally. The President Pro Tem of the Senate, #3 in succession, (not pictured) because he stayed in Washington.

Luckily protests were peaceful and safely away from the stage. But we had national guard troops hidden beneath the stadium, and a cadre of Secret Service and ATF agents were out of sight in the nearby law school building, just in case.

Oh yeah, one final example of how we really do share these memories "with the bark off" in our memoir: I recount how LBJ asked me to follow along as he read his dedication remarks to me. He led me into the men’s room, reading aloud, holding his speech in one hand and guiding his stream with the other.


This Super-8 home movie of the dedication was filmed by HR Haldeman and Dwight Chapin via Jeff Kreines YouTube

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Spelce To Highlight LBJ Museum’s Spring Lecture

  • 2 min read

Excellent History Feature on Neal Spelce in the February 5, 2022 Austin American Statesman, interview with Michael Barnes.





From the San Marcos Daily Record:

Renowned Texas newsman and author Neal Spelce will highlight the LBJ Museum’s Spring Lecture.

The museum recently announced its feature speaker for its annual lecture, which is set to take place Wednesday, Feb. 23. The event will open with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by the lecture at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, the museum said.

“Our lecture will be February 23rd and will feature renowned Texas newsman and author of With the Bark Off: A Journalist’s Memories of LBJ and a Life in the News Media, Neal Spelce, he should be wonderful,” Wayne Kraemer, LBJ Museum Board of Directors President, said during the museum’s 15th anniversary gala on Jan. 22.

As an award-winning political journalist, Spelce covered presidents from Harry Truman to George W. Bush. The museum, however, said his most famous association was with President Lyndon B. Johnson. Spelce’s book “With the Bark Off, A Journalist’s Memories of LBJ and a Life in the News Media,” highlights his experiences with LBJ and other moments from his career in journalism.

During his 60-year-career, Spelce worked in radio, television, journalism, marketing, advertising, public relations, broadcast program syndication, public speaking and consulting. Spelce served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Sen. John McCain during his 2008 presidential campaign. Additionally, Spelce served as a communications consultant to Texas Gov. Ann Richards and New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.

Spelce was also CEO of a company that created, produced, and syndicated An American Moment with Charles Kuralt and An American Moment with James Earl Jones — internationally-acclaimed TV news programs that were featured in more than 100 U.S. markets.

Spelce has received top award for radio news reporting from the national Society of Professional Journalists and the National Headliners Club’s highest award for “consistently outstanding television news coverage in the United States.” The museum said he’s been “cited for his bravery, and for saving countless lives, while reporting under fire, and in real-time,” the University of Texas tower shooting that left 15 people dead and wounded 31 others.

Spelce holds three communications degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. He was named an Outstanding Alumnus of UT’s Moody College of Communication. Spelce was also honored when the college of communication permanently named The Neal Spelce Broadcast Journalism Studio in his honor.

The LBJ Museum said its spring lecture is free and open to the public. The museum, however, is asking that all attendees sign up for the event either by calling the museum at 512-353-3300, emailing director@lbjmuseum.com or visiting the museum’s website at https://lbjmuseum.com/events/


Read the entire article here:





Words Can Make 2022 More Bearable (if you know what to look for)

  • 2 min read


One of the joys of a life in journalism is you get to enjoy the “sayings” of public figures – without regard to politics. Despite all the harsh words tossed around in the public arena, some gems can actually emerge – even those with a bit of a bite. Watching for those can make 2022 a bit more bearable. Let me share some examples from the past.


President Harry Truman was the master of telling it like he saw it. After his controversial firing of popular General Douglas MacArthur due to insubordination, he famously told reporters “I didn’t fire him because he was a dumb son of a bitch, although he was, but that’s not against the law for generals. If it was, half to three-quarters of them would be in jail.” Truman’s wife Bess was asked if she could get him to stop saying manure. Her reply: “You don’t know how hard it was just to get him to use that word.”


From that same era, failed presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson said “I will make a bargain with the Republicans. If they stop telling lies about us, we’ll stop telling the truth about them.” A lie? Former Secretary of State Al Haig said “That’s not a lie. It’s a terminological inexactitude.”


President Ronald Reagan quipped that “one of the most important rules in politics is poise – which means looking like an owl after you have behaved like a jackass.” President Dwight Eisenhower cautioned that “sweet praise is like perfume. It’s fine if you don’t swallow it.”


Storytelling is a form of humor used by Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson, as I point out in my memoir, With The Bark Off A Journalist’s Memories of LBJ and a Life in the News Media.


Former Treasury Secretary and Texas Governor John Connally liked to twist the old George Washington-chopping-down-a-cherry-tree-legend into a Texas tale. Connally pointed out George Washington’s father told his son they would have to leave Texas and move to Virginia after young George confessed he couldn’t tell a lie when he cut down a mesquite tree in their backyard. As his father put it: “You’ll never get elected in Texas if you can’t tell a lie.”


Or sometimes, a Texas politician can simply “twist” the facts. Agriculture Secretary John White was badly beaten when he ran for Texas Governor. His rationale: “Texans like the job I was doing as Ag Commissioner, so they voted overwhelmingly to keep me in this job.”


And the following quote was made in jest, but it’s a good ’un: Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice John Hill commented after he was soundly defeated in a race for Texas governor: “The people have spoken – the bastards!”


As 2022 unfolds and the harsh political rhetoric heats up, be alert for the little humorous gems that are sure to emerge and brighten your day a bit.


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